MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN — Milwaukee police have identified the African-American man killed in an officer-involved shooting that sparked racially charged protests over the weekend as 23-year-old Sylville Smith, according to WITI Fox 6 News.
The incident started on Saturday afternoon at 3:30 p.m. at the 3200 block of North 44th Street. Smith was in a vehicle with a friend. Two police officers saw the vehicle behaving in what they determined was a suspicious manner and stopped the car. Smith and his friend both fled on foot.
Smith was carrying a stolen handgun. An officer ordered him to drop the weapon, but Smith did not comply. The officer then fired several shots, hitting Smith twice, once in the arm and once in the chest. Smith died at the scene, Milwaukee police said.
Police Chief Ed Flynn announced on Saturday that the officer who shot and killed Smith is African-American but is not being identified because of concerns for his safety.
Milwaukee police said Smith was involved in a burglary in March in which the victim reported that a handgun and 500 rounds of ammunition had been stolen.
According to court records cited by WITI Fox 6 News, Smith had been charged for various crimes, from drug possession and felony retail theft to felony intimidation of a witness.
Smith’s death sparked violent protests against police treatment of African Americans in Milwaukee. Several stores were burned, and protesters threw rocks at the police on the city's north side.
On Sunday night, 150 officers were deployed to the area as part of a Major Incident Response Team. Chief Flynn said all officers patrolled in two-person patrol units.
